Electric switch.



F. BARR.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

uruonml mum an. 11. ms.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Fig. :L-

6 4| 7 5 5 4 A 4 A. N

V mmvron' WIND"! Fig. 3-

WITNESSES nr'rolmcr F. BARR.

ELEGTBIO SWITCH.

Pylon-1o! run In. 11. ms.

Patented Aug.18,191&

: IBES'I'HBBE'I a'.

Fig- 9- WITNESSES it) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nmnnmc Hana on NEW Yonx, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application flied March 11, 1913; Serial in. 753,568.

and useful rovements .in Electric w'fiic "the following is a speci- .fi t' iq' l? M eseiiiiiriverftion relates more par- 1 tic are commonly termed r0- t, 's witc'hes"and the general 0b ect of jifiw enti 'i'sTtO improve structures of tliisjchafictei; melting them more posit ve witches-and by's imphfying' and reducing it B a ib ti ft rs One telitiire pf'theinvention is an imofiit'ent mechanism for cona'ction. s ages; is a special form of r irg s witeh blade which posiinp'ditant advantages of methorough insulation. I, H is the method of indicat H r the'switch is open or closed. 1 lnoit he i; feature is an improved form of i e'nrt lgmxnn featnifeiof improvement resides T switch spindle. t m apqo nippn yji ig drawings illustrate the h ion inpts. preferred form and some I t butf lwould have it undergusother changes and modimalignant? made therein without departiri g from the true spirit and scope of the inveiitioii.

is.a plan view of a sw tch em- .LQ lXLHg RY .ibp lention and showing the lLtE r -pn. Fig. 2, 1s a vertical Tj'atviw; 3, is a detail perspective j' ew. of the'"h;andle. Fig. 4, is a drop perspective view of one of the combined circuit nd switch terminals. Fig. 5, is a fragmen t aryij perspgcti e view (it one method of preventing the c rcuit terminal from turning. Eig fi is afletail sectional v ew ofone form .ot some t the r ary, S E- c lade is was 52. ..i9 l-Z ar a bles -sweet is-.. sad s i W lllr ll fiwwf rl iilh fi i hzwfi l l t wi e asd ota w h ad m ed iiign h a a drop perspective view of the spindle and 35 the arious parts which are mounted thereon ventigit gr itlisatinodified .ffiI'IIL. Qf, llld,LijD.tOI3.

below the base. Fig. 11, is a drop perspective of the switch parts which are located on the spindle above the base: Fig. 12, is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 1212 of Fig. 2. Figs. 13 and 14 are similar views of the parts shown in Fig. 12 illustratingthe operation of the detentmechanism.

The parts of the switch mechanism may be mounted upon a base 10 of porcelain or other suitable insulating material. This base carries the relatively stationary switch terminals 11. The spindle 12 is rotatably carried by the base and carries the relatively movable contacts or switch blades 13, 13'. The drawing illustrates a switch of the double pole type and the base therefore carries two sets of switch terminals while the spindle carries two switch contacts to co operate with the respective pairs of termi nals.

A spring connection is provided between the spindle and the switch blades thereon and toget the necessary snap action a detent mechanism is employed for temporarily restraining the switch blades while storing up the tension necessary to give the snap to the blades. The spring is designated 14 and it is usually held in place by coiling it about the ,spindle substantially as shown. The upper end of this torsional spring is connected with the spindle as by engaging with a lug 15 on the washer 16 which is fixedly secured upon the spindle, while the lower end of the spring is connected in a suitable way with the support which carries the switch blade or blades. The washer 16 which forms the anchor for the upper end of the spring is preferably engaged upon the spindle by slotting it as indicated at 17 so that it may he slipped cdgewise into engage ment with an angular portion 18 on the spindle.

The switch blade support is mounted loosely upon the spindle so that thesaid sn 1- 100 port and the spindle maybe rotated e pins may, as shown, be utilized as the anchor; for the lower end of the torsional spring, the

The switch blades or pole pieces are secured to the insulating washer by rivets 22, or the like fastenings, and the heads of these fastening's are preferably counter-sunk in the "under side of 'the insulating washer substan tially as indicated in Fig. 8. To further avoid any possibility of connection between the switch blades and the metallic supporting plate, this plate is preferably recessed or cut away as indicated at 24 at points inline with the fastenin 22. Interference between the two switch lilades is preventedin the double pole switch construction by superposone sjvitch contact above the other, suith ble posts 25bein employed for spacing the u per switch bla e above the lower. Each of the switch blades is preferably made up of two pieces of spring metal substantially as-shown so as to make a yielding frictional engagement with the stationary switch terminals.

The detent mechanism has a cam 26 which is fixedly engaged upon the lower portion of the spindle and which serves to operate a stop member 27 into and out of engagement with certain upstandin holding lugs on a catch plate 28 which is edly secured to the base. These lugs, as shown in Figs. 11 to 14, are arranged in pairs spaced so as to receive the stop finger therebetween, the forward one 29 of each pair of lugs constituting the forward stop, and the rearward lug 30 constituting a back stop. It will be noted that the forward or front stop lugs are of less radial distance from the center of the catch plate than the rear stop lugs, the purpose of which will appear later. The referred manner of forming these upstan ing lugs is to strike them up from the metal of which the catch plate is formed. The catch plate is preferably held against turning by providing it with outstanding anchor lugs 31 to engage in corresponding seats in the base. A convenient method of producing these various lugs on the catch plate is to strike up the holding lugs, one at each side or edge of the anchor lugs This permits of the entire set of lugs being formed at a single operation. To provide a proper hearing for the lower end of the spindle, the catch plate preferably carries a sleeve 33 which may be produced integrally with the late and a washer 32 seated in a depression in the underside of the base is made with a corresponding sleeve portion 32 which formsa continuation of the bearing sleeve 33.

In order that the stop finger may serve asa Stop to limit the forward turning movement of the switch blades, a connections is provided between the support which carries the switch blades and the stop finger. This connection I have shqwn in the fornr. of a dependent lug 34 on theund'er side of the switch blade support which may be made integral with thesupportand adapted to make engagefinger into engagement with the lugs on the catch plate.

The normal position of the detent mechanism is illustrated in F ig; 12. Here the spring connection between the spindle and the switch contact support is exerting its tension to turn the spindle counter clockwise. The cam in this position forces the stop finger outward 'so as to engage it' between the front and back stop lugs on the catch late. The outward movement of the stop nger is limited by the body of the stop finger coming into engagement with the dependent lug 34 on the switch contact support. By thus limiting .the outward movement of the stop fir'fer further rotation of the cam and the spin le is prevented and this lug 34 therefore serves to prevent the spindle being turned backward in reference to the switch carrying support. To operate the switch the spindle is rotated to the right by suitable means such as the handle '35 on the upper end of the spindle. This turning movement of the spindle rotates the cam 26 until about in the position shown 13, the point ofthe stop finger is withdrawn from engagement with the front stop-lug 29. During this forward turning movement of the spindle, the switch contact sup ort is held against rotation by reason of t e in 34 carried thereby being in engagement with the rearward side of the stop finger, and during this periodof relative rotation between the spindleand support, the torsional spring is placed under still greater tension so that by the time the finger is withdrawn from engagement with the stop 29, the tension is suflicient to turn the support with a quick snap action. As the spindle is turned far. enough to disengage the stop finger from the front stop lug, (see Fig. 13), the cam 26 will occupy such a position that as the stop finger is turned around under pressure of the spring back of the lug 34, the finger will be projected so as to strike the next 1 29 which stops it, as shown in Fig. 14. en the handle is released, the spring turns the handle counter clockwise and the cam move; the detent finger out into the space between the lugs 29 and 30. The switch is in this wa turned step "by step with a quick and' positivesn'ap action to alternately make and break the circuit at the switch terminals. ff To insure a iiuiek and positive release of the stopfinger from the'front stop lug, the rearward edge of the finger is preferably tapered oil as indicated at 27' so as to swing clearof the liig 29 once the point of the finhasbeen released from the lug. The ugs 'a're'incli'ned'so as to insure greater'freedom "of movement to the detent.

In addi'tiori' toits' function as a means rapper-su ge stop finger, I preferably utilizeth'e cam 2'6 also as a means for assistijrig in'gliol'ding' the parts assembled upon the spindle? in 'Figs. 2 and 8 the switch gtiontactjfsupport "is shown as movably engages iipddtlie' spindle between the spring aficliorifigwasherglfi at the top and the 2 6atf t'he bottom. The cam thus was of'lj'i'niflthedownward movement of dulpport' upon the spindle and all spring 14 forces the support i" arid "against this cam that it occua alat'phsai n upon the spindle and jhei-ettiifcfglwaysholds the switch contacts in the nigger the relatively fixed' switch tbiimiila by disengaging the cam tlie'c'onte uz't support and slipped off the spindle.

fetl f a log:faeilitate' the{securing of the cam in fixed 'pdsition uponfthe' spindle and to permit of its-easy removal therefrom, the cam is preferablyslotted a's,indicated at 36 to engage with} fannjilar portion 37 on the spindle.

eugageinent from the base by utablc mea11s' s uch as the slotted securingnvashep 38 arranged to engage an angu- 1 rnf1 pi ti'on 39'fon the lower end of the spinjdlcl; To p hs t'ely limit upward movement i;%n;f@ -n H support on the spindle an abutment flasher J0 may be engaged on the Vspju dleji" said support.

jliiei 1t tc inals which I have illustrated and wliirh iformi a part of this inventio um of ,e iz tremely simple and durable jcox st'ruc, 1on1 aiid jcgich' consists of an interigily flircadcd sleveQfi which carries on its appeared alteripipal plate 46. a binding ,screu; lfl'beiiig ei tered in the upper end of thdslceve forfc lamping the electric conductor a' securing screw 48' being entered fi th 1. m Lands f mar s f r ast ithe tcfrininal, ipc plac e, T Figs. ,2 &l1 d 8 lllllS- trate ,h o p' the term nal is f n io'u rited" in :the' lgasa th e base beingunade w tlran opening to r eggir towel; en

tire; slseveandiwitli a shoulder 50 lat-i is {'fiiidle' maybe normally secured ii-this eveni a b eased:hathaseeui n i -"e q i see has it anner wi this. shoulder serves to draw the threaded sleevedownward and thereby clamp theta-mind! plate in engagement with th' topofthe base. The terminal plate may be held against rotation by providing it 'wit lr'a lug 51 arranged to engage with a seat 52 provided for that purpose "in-the base. The terminal plate may be engagedupon'the upper end of the'threadcd sleeve in any suitable way and in the illustration the sleeve is shown shouldered at 53 so that the termi switch blade 13. In Fig-5, thecirciiittermi V nal 63 is let into a recess? "t -present rotation. In Fig. 7, the's'vvitclibTa'd IB is riveted to the support 65' "biitins ulated y the bushing 66 "'5 In the form of indicator shown in Figs-S and 9 the dial70 is secured upoiithspindle by providing it with a central. -opening -to engage over the end of thespind'le andwitih one or more downwardly stru'tflrliigsqfytb engage in recesses or openings73' 'in the spring anchoring washer'dfl. This-dial may be additionally secured place by having theend of the screw bushingfi to which the handle is attached,"engage=dbwn over the central portion of'the 'dial' substantially as indicated. The dial in thisway serves to prevent accidental. disengagement of the slotted washer 16 from the=spindle because after the dial has been passedmveithe end of the spindle and the lugs-72 have been interlocked with the seats'therefor' in the washer, the said \vashemwill be held against edgewise withdra'ual from tlie spindle. v

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary snap switchl'the"combina tion of a base, switch terminals on the b'ase, a spindle rotatably mounted on the baseg a cam fixed on the spindle, a stop finger en gaged by the cam and operated thei -ebw a catch plate secured to the base and provided with lugs upstanding from the surfaceo'f the plateand arranged in pairs "with the "lugs of each pair spaced apart to receive between them the stop finger when said-finger is projected by the ram. support rotatably mounted on the spindle, a dependent lug icarri d by said support havin'ga bearing against the stop finger in the direction of rotation of the spindle, aswitch contact car'- support exerting tension to turn the spindle rearwardly in respect to the support to thereby normally roject the stop finger outward between a pair. of the upstanding lugs on the catch plate, wherebywhen thespindle is turned forwardly the spring will be and pair spaced to placed under greater tension'and the stop finger will be withdrawn inwardly from between the catch lugs 2. In a rotary snap switch, the combination of a base, a catch plate secured in the base provided with spaced oppositely disposed lugs cut inward from the edge of the plate and bent upwardly above the plane-of the ,plate liobring the cut edges thereof into position to form front and back stops for a .detent finger 'projected t-herebetween and with the said front stops extending farther inward toward the center of the plate than the buck stops, a spindle journaled at the center of the catch plate, a cam fixed on the lower end of the spindle, a detent finger engaged by said cam and a support rotatably engag on the spindle aving a bearing against the detent fin ger in the direction of rotation of the spindle, a switch contact carried by the support and a spring connection between the spindle and'support exerting tension to turn 'the spindle rearwardly to thereby cause the cam to project the detent finger outwardly in between a pair of the lugs on the catch plate, whereby when the said spindle is rotated forwardly the spring will be placed under greater tension and the detent finger will be withdrawn inwardly from engageinent. wit-h the forward one of the upstanding-lug s between which it was engaged.

3.. In a rotary snap switch, a base, switch terminals carried thereby, a spindle rotatably mounted on the base, a catch plate secured to the base provided with upstanding lugs arranged in pairs with the lugs of each form front and back stops for a stop finger projected therebetween and with the front stop lugs disposed nearer the center of the catch plate than the back stop lugs, a cam fixed on the spindle, a stop finger operated by said cam, a support rotatably engaged on the spindle and having a bearing against the stop finger in the direction of rotation of the spindle, a switch contact carried by said support for engage ment with the switch terminals on the base,

and a spring connection between the spindle and support exerting tension to rotate the spindle to cause the cum to normally project the stop finger outwardly between the stop lugs on the catch plate.

4. In a rotary snap switch. a base provided with seats, switch terminals carried by the base, a catch plate provided with pperated thereby,

projecting anchor lugs to en age the seats on the base and with spaced ugs struck up from said plate at opposite sides of each of the said an'chor lugs, a spindle journaled on the base, a camfixed on the'spindle, a stop finger operated by. said cam, a'su port rota- Eably engaged on-the spindle, and having a ear tion 0 rotation of the spindle, a switch contaetcarried by the support and a spring connection between the spindle and support exerting tension to rotate-the spindle to norn ally project the stop finger outward between the spaced lugs on the catchplate.

5. In a rota snap switch, a base, a detent plate on t e base provided with airs of lugs upstanding from the surface 0 the same, the lugs of each pair being spaced apart to provide front and'back stops and with the frontstops disposed nearer the center of the late than the back stops, :1

spindle journa ed at the center of the detent plate, a camon said' spindle, a detent provided with a body portion encircling the 'cam and with a finger extending laterally from the said body portion and adapted to k be projected-outwardly in between a pair of the front and back stops, a switch blade support rotatably mounted on the spindle, a spring connected between the spindle and the support and exerting tension to rotate the spindle backwardly in respect to the support and a dependent lug on the support bearing against the rearward side of the projecting finger whereby said finger will limit the forward rotative movement of the support, said dependent lug being'disposed on the support in position to be engaged by the body portion ofthe detent whereby by thus limit ng outward'movement of the de- 7 tent' to limit backward rotation of the spindle in respect to the support.

6. In a rota snap switch, a base, switch terminals on o base, a spindle rotatably mounted on the base, a cam fixed pn the spindle, a stop finger recessed to receive the cam, a catch plate on the base provided with upstanding front and back stop lugs spaced to receive the stop finger between t em, a support rotatably engaged on the spindle above the cam thereon, a switch contact carried by the support for cooperation with the switch terminals on the base, a torsional spring connection between the spindle and the switch blade support exerting tension to rotate the spindle in respect to the support to shift the stop finger outwardly and a dependent lug on the support disposed to be engaged by the stop finger in the outward movement thereof to limit 'such outward movement and thereby to limit the reverse movement of the spindle in respect to the support.

7. In a rotary switch, a base, a spindle mounted on the base, a contact carrying support mounted on the spindle, a washer proagainst the stop finger in the direcvidecl with openings therein and slotted so as to be engaged edgewise over the spindle, a torsional spring connected at one end with said washer andat the other end with the contact carrying support and a dial fitted over the end of the spindle and provided with In struck downward therefrom into interloc ing engagement with the openings in the slotted washer. I 9

, 8. In a rotary switch, a, base, a spindle on the base, a switch blade, and a "support for the switch blade comprising a.

metallic plate engaged on the spindle, a

washer of insulating material non-rotatively engaged on the late and fastenings securing the switch blade upon the insulatin washer and the metallic plate being recess in line with such fastenings to avoid contact between said plate and the fastenings.

9. In a rotary snan switch, a base, switch mounted on the base, a support rotatably en- T gaged on the spindle, a switch contact car i1, ried by said support, a cam fixed on the spindle, a torsional s ring connection between the spindle and t e support, a stop finger operated by the cam, and a catch plate on the base provided with upstanding spaced lugs forming front and back stops to be engaged by the stop fin r, the sai front stop lugs extending inwar nearer the center of the catch plate than the back stop lugs and inclined from their inner extremities toward the edge of the plate to thereby provide clearance for the stop finger when released FREDERIG BARR.

n. s. 'Amm, Pnmm S. McLnAn'.

from the same.

Correotlqn in Letters Patent No...1,1 07.2 4 7.

vided with openings therein and slotted so as a to be engaged edgewise over the spindle, a torsional spring connected at one end with i said washer and'at the other end with the 5 contact carrying support and a dial fitted over' thel'end of the spindle and provided within struck downward therefrom into' finterloc ing engagement with the openings in the slotted Washer.

[seen] the spindle and t 13.:In a rotary-S base Spindle terminals on thebase, a spindle rotatahljy, mounted on the base, a support rotatably engaged on the spindle, a switch'contact car ried by said support, a cam fixed on the spin .v dle, a torsional splring connection between esupport, a stop finger operated by the cam, and a oatch'plate on the base rovided with upstanding spaced lugs forming front and'back sto s to be engaged by, the stop finger, the sad front stop lugs extending inward nearer the center of the catch plate than the back stop lugs and inclined from their inner extremities toward the edge of the plate to thereby'provide clearance for the stop finger when released 35 from the same;

FREDERIC BARR. "Witnesses:

' R, S. ALLnT,

- Pnrnrr' SL McLean.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,107,247, granted August 18, 1914, upon the application of Frederic, Barr, of New York, N. Y for an improvement in Electric Switches,1 an: error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 63, for the word connections read cm'mect'e'tm,

and that-the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of September, D., 1914.

R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acti/ng Commissioner of Patents Correction in Letters Patent No..1,107,24"7.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Petent No. 1,107,247, gralnted August 18,

1914, upon the application of Frederic Barr, of New York, N. Y., for en improvement in Electric Switches, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 63, for the word connections read connection, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of September A. D., 1914.

R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner qf Patents [sun] 

